May
It was their new weekly routine: Head down to the local Wizard pub, tip back a few drinks, check the results of the most recent Quidditch matches. Then, full of laughter, head for home. Last night the routine had been interrupted. Walking along a deserted lane, they had rounded a corner and four cloaked and hooded figures had melted from the shadows.
"Well, well. Two of Dumbledore's stooges," the first figure greeted. James clamped down hard on the laughter that bubbled up within him. Sirius, however, burst into fresh gales at these words. He stumbled forward and off to the right; away from James. Soon, he was within arm's reach of two of the Death Eaters. All four of them had eyes only for Sirius' hysterics.
Sirius fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Gets them every time, James thought. Unnoticed, he drew his wand. He knew that Sirius had drawn his as well, while collapsing to his knees. One of the Death Eaters shifted towards Sirius. Four spells burst forth, two per wand, shattering the darkness. The spells flew into the Death Eaters, knocking them backwards to the ground.
Sirius' laughter turned from hysterics to a superior chuckle. James rushed forward; throwing body binds on the lot of them. He knelt beside the one who had spoken. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," he said. With a sigh, he pulled off the Death Eater's hood. The man underneath had a familiar face, though James couldn't put a name with it. "Four against two," he said, "It hardly seems fair."
Sirius appeared beside him. He had collected the other Death Eater's hoods and wands. "Yeah," he said, snapping the wands in half, one at a time, "Next time they better send six, or maybe eight." James stood up.
"Thanks for the distraction, Padfoot," he said. He gathered the immobilized Death Eaters with his wand. They floated upright, their feet ever-so-slightly off the ground.
"Don't mention it," Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's take this slime in."
He chuckled and set down the paper, "I'll get it." Rising, he hurried for the door. When he opened it, he was greeted by a shabby, sandy-haired wizard. Warm blue eyes smiled at him, the skin crinkling into laugh-lines. "James?" he greeted, surprised, his voice little more than a growl.
"Remus! What are you doing here?" James asked, forgetting his manners.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Huh? But I live here."
"Oh no! I have to go!" The smile melted away, "You know Dumbledore has forbidden any member of the Order meeting together at home!" he backed away.
"But Moony, this isn't my house," Sirius called, lolloping downstairs. His hair, still wet from his recent shower, clumped into wavy black curls.
"Sirius?" Remus gulped. He shook his head in dismay. "Not all three of us! And Lily too?" He turned and started back down the walk, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
"Moony, wait!" Sirius called, running after him. James smiled. He caught Remus about the shoulders and bore him in a circle. James could guess well enough what they were saying. Remus would be adamant about following the rules. Sirius would shrug off his protests, stating his own logic for not following them.
Hadn't it always worked that way? James' perfect plan put down by Remus because it wasn't strictly legal. Sirius pulling him aside, making him see sense. Cajoling him, promising him; never threatening him. Sirius' threats only worked on Peter.
Remus had to see the pattern by now; had to know that the promises were empty. This is how we show our love for you, old friend; convincing you to let yourself live a little. It's always been this way. Even when you tried to save us from yourself.
Remus, resigned to his fate, allowed himself to be led back into the Potter's house. Sirius had him by the shoulders, from behind, and steered him into the sitting room where Lily waited.
"Remus!" she exclaimed. She struggled to regain her feet. Remus crossed the room and helped her up. "Look at you!" she continued.
"Look at you!" he hugged her close. "Oh, Lily. I'm so happy for you." He turned, taking in James, "And you! Congratulations!"
"Thanks, Moony," James said.
"How much longer?"
"About two more months; late July or early August," Lily answered, "It can't come soon enough if you ask me."
"I heard from Frank and Alice that you were having a boy. They're having a boy, too," Remus said.
"We'll have to have a party when they're both born!" Sirius exclaimed. Remus paled.
"We couldn't! That would put almost half the Order in one place!"
"Half? I was thinking we'd invite the lot of them!" James chuckled as horror filled Remus' face. Sirius continued, "We haven't been together since--," he paused, thinking. "Well since Aberforth came into town."
"Over a year now," James added. Sirius nodded. "You two catch up," he said, "Sirius and I will start dinner." He threw his best friend a meaningful look.
"Alright," Lily said, catching the look and sitting back down. Remus perched next to her on the couch. James led the way into the kitchen, Sirius trudging after him.
One night in the guest room had turned to one week; then two. Sirius had simply refused to leave. And really, James had never asked him to.
"I know what you're going to say, Prongs," he began, following in James' wake.
"Do you?" he pulled a pan from the shelf.
"I just have to pass a few messages and then he'll be on his way. But I thought you'd be happy to see him?"
James conjured pasta and filled the pan with water before answering. "Dumbledore will have a fit when he hears about this. All three of us in the same place for longer than a minute. And no Death Eaters to show for it this time." He pulled a second pan from the shelf and summoned an assortment of vegetables to the cutting board.
"When did you start caring what Dumbledore thought? I think last night's capture deserves a dinner party," Sirius asked. He seemed genuinely affronted.
James turned on him, "I invited Remus to stay, didn't I?" Sirius studied him, anger just beneath the surface.
"So you're not mad?" he asked. James opened his mouth to answer then closed it again. He grabbed a knife and started in on the pile of vegetables. Sirius watched him silently as he worked through the pile. James added the chopped vegetables to the second pan before answering.
"You've endangered Lily and the baby by meeting Remus here, Padfoot. You do realize that? But how can I be mad? My two best friends are here. Together. Lily is so happy. She counts Remus as one of her best friends too. Why shouldn't we enjoy ourselves a bit; if only for tonight? I'm so tired of worrying about things. I don't want to be careful anymore. It isn't me."
"Well, after last night--"
"Last night we were lucky and you know it. We caught those Death Eaters off guard."
"But they're scared of us, Prongs."
"All the more reason to attack us, now, while we're all together and full of victory. We won't be expecting it! Not Padfoot and Prongs! They're so arrogant they'll never think that we'll attack them at home!" Lily's laughter drifted through the sudden silence. Sirius looked towards the front of the house. James returned to the spaghetti.
"You're right, Prongs; you win," Sirius said once her laughter had died. The sad resignation in his voice sliced deep into James. What have I won this time? James turned from his cooking. He expected to see anger covering the sadness. However, there was no anger; only a soft, sad smile. James studied him, waiting for him to continue. "I should go. Every day that I'm here, the risk multiplies. How could I have been so selfish?"
"You haven't been the only selfish one, Padfoot. I've loved every minute that you've been here. And I let those risks increase. Every day I told myself to send you away. Every day I let you stay. I said good-night to you, I watched you walk up those stairs. And I knew that I'd see you in the morning. I love being with you; pretending that we're not suppose to be hiding from half the world. I've always loved being with you."
Sirius smiled, "Not that first day. I didn't think we'd ever survive each other."
James returned the smile, "Well, no. But you started it," he said, pointing accusingly at him.
Sirius' throaty chuckle chased around the room. "Perhaps. But I wasn't going to Slytherin." He sighed, "Shall I pack tonight?"
"No. Pack in August."
"But you just said--"
"I know! I know what I just said. Were you listening?"
"Spell it out for me, Prongs. Pretend you're talking to Peter." Sirius' anger had flashed to the surface. Good. Anger I know; sadness--
"Lily needs you to stay. She needs your help and she loves fussing over you. I need you to stay. I need to pretend a bit longer."
"It sounds less selfish when you say it's to keep Lily happy," Sirius laughed.
"That's right! I am being selfish and I will continue being so!" James folded his arms and stomped his foot, glaring in mock anger. "So Remus can stay as long as he wants and so can you."
"Selfish and stupid, Prongs. What about the baby?"
"You're his Godfather. How can you spoil him if you never see him?"
"And Dumbledore?" Sirius asked again.
"When did Dumbledore's opinion ever matter more than my own?"
"Never. But--"
"No!" James cut him off. "Not another word."
"It's just that--"
"This conversation is over."
"Your spaghetti is boiling over." What? James spun back to the stove. Frothy white water was everywhere. Sirius' barking laughter echoed through the house.